Reuben Fine

Reuben Fine, Ph.D., (1914-1993) was one of the most renowned American chess players and theoretical authors in 20th century history. A decorated veteran of the United States Navy, he began playing chess at the age of 9. From 1931-1936, he attended the University of Minnesota, and graduated with a Bachelor's degree, the first step in his academic studies.

He distinguished himself as a player of top-flight international chess, winning three of the strongest tournaments in existence—AmberAmber, Moscow and Hastings. He was a member of the U.S. team at the world chess Olympiad in 1931, and won five U.S. Open Chess Championships between 1935 and 1941. He was an international Grandmaster, one of only a few people in history to possess that title.

He wrote several important books on chess theory, an area of the game in which he excelled. His most famous works, strategically titled Basic Chess Endings (1941) and Modern Chess Openings (1943), both remain standard texts and essential sources of chess reference today.

Fine was also a pioneer in the field of chess psychology. He wrote The Psychology of the Chess Player and other books to explore the deep psychological and mathematical aspects of the game. His book Chess in the War (1945) examines the tactical uses of chess in the strategic planning of WWII.

Reuben Fine was a prolific author, and his works were popular with chess enthusiasts of all levels. He was an exceptional teacher, and used his extensive theoretical knowledge of the game to help players to improve. He wrote extensively about chess, and many of his books have become timeless classics.

Fine is best remembered for his contributions to chess theory and teaching. He showed that chess is more than just memorizing moves and the rules, but involves a deep level of thought and application. His books have been translated into dozens of languages, and his writings are still being studied and shared today. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest minds in chess theory.